Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

In a previous post, I shared one indicator of a society’s regard for the disabled lays in the terms used to label them. Words like cripple, invalid and handicap – used to dismiss, discard and devalue individuals seen as different – slowly disappeared as the social model of disability “gave way to the empowerment of people with disabilities through the development of a vigorous disabled identity and self-advocacy movement.”

For the first time in history, we were empowered to name the labels that define us. Although the discussion continues, sometimes at ad nauseam, the current acceptable terminology is people-first language, which puts the person before the disability. But, even here, there are issues with the word disability.

As Mama Terapeuta, a linguist and mother of a young daughter with cerebral palsy,  explains in her post Hablemos (En serio) de Discapacidad, loosely translated by Google Translate to "Let’s Talk (Seriously) Disability":

…disability is defined in opposition to performance and to some extent also health. It is classified by different degrees of ‘problems’ and to define explicitly that ‘trouble’ capabilities must be compared with what is normal for one. What can I say … To me this is a reason for not using the word disability.

With the term "disability", there needs to be an ability, a norm, in order for there to be a disability; disability is measured against an ability and is a measure of inferiority, of being less than.

Rather, Mama Terapeuta favours "functional diversity" – a phrase now commonly used in the Hispanic community. If I understand her correctly, functional diversity acknowledges the differences in abilities, the diverse ways of doing or functioning, while not implying inferiority or less than.

In my mind, “functional diversity” definitely has merit over “disability”. However, I wonder if using the term in the English-speaking community would lead to confusion rather than enlightenment, at least until the term catches on. I’m also left wondering if other cultures have equally thought-provoking terms.

What are your thoughts on this evolution of language?

Its that time of year again – time for creating lists of goals on clean sheets of paper in attempts of improving upon the old year and making the most of the New Year. Here are 21 of my bloggable goals for 2010 in no particular order other than in which they came to mind:

1. Sell the remaining 200 copies of my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself.
2. Find a way to make my book available on the Amazon’s Kindle.
3. Do a beta launch of <still secret project>.
4. Extend my reach in social networks and with social media.
5. Get my efforts in social networks and with social media working seamlessly and smoothly.
6. Relaunch my <still secret project> in a major way.
7. File taxes DURING tax season.
8. Redesign this blog’s theme with accessibility in mind.
9. Learn enough php to complete #8.
10. Attend a taping of Oprah’s show.
11. Further develop the “Faith the Talking CFO” concept and produce a series of YouTube videos.
12. Create an ebook or book from my <still secret project>.
13. Write one guest post per month.
14. Create a 2011 photo quilt calendar to sell on Cafe Press.
15. Comment on 10 blogs per week.
16. Redo www.BooksbyGlenda.com to generate enough revenue to cover domain and hosting costs.
17. Send 20-25 cards per month with SendOutCards.
18. Continue the Accessibility 100 series.
19. Complete the From Special Education Classroom to University Graduate mini-series. 
20. Participate in the Vancouver Blogathon in July. 
21. Feed 100 people in need Christmas dinner.

I will check back after the first quarter with a progress report

What are your goals for making 2010 your most awesome year ever?

Reflecting upon the video I created yesterday, I indulged myself briefly in a sense of pride and accomplishment. I had followed a creative idea through development to completion using various software programs and skills that I had learned myself.

Surely those are characteristics of a valuable employee! Yet, during my job search years, only one employer chose to take a chance on me, and that was for a grant-funded position. Once the year was up and the funding gone, I was out of a job. No other employer gave me the opportunity to prove what I was capable of and what I could bring to the organization. They could not see past my jerky cerebral palsy movements, my significant speech impairment and my painfully slow typing speed.

In recent years I have questioned why did I bother with five years at high school and seven years at university, working hard to keep up (and sometimes surpass) my classmates and friends, only to watch them land jobs with decent salaries, Christmas bonuses and pension plans while I’m still stuck on social assistance, labeled as unemployable. Was all of that work for nothing? Why did I bother?

But then I think back to what I have accomplished by not having a J O B. I’ve written and self-published a book, which took umpteen skills, creativity, determination and perseverance.

Just this year I’ve wowed the pants off of many with my SOBCon and WordCamp presentations – not only with the content but also by the method. Who else combines PowerPoint with captions and a text-to-speech voice the way I do?

My blog, now four years old (another sign of determination and diligence), has a loyal worldwide readership and currently has an Alexa ranking of 357,412, which is higher than many so-called experts’ blogs and websites.

Daily I connect with hundreds of colleagues, friends and contacts, regardless of location or time zone, on Twitter and Facebook – essential tools nowadays. Last night I Skype chatted via video with friends on the Gold Coast of Australia and then with my brother in Alberta.

To those employers who refused to hire me because of my typing speed and “poor” communication skills, you failed to think creatively and to think outside of the box – an ability I could have brought to your organization. The name, reputation and exposure, which I have created for myself, I would have willingly and gladly created for your business, had I been given the opportunity. But, you didn’t look beyond my cerebral palsy to see what I could offer. For that reason, you lose!

By persevering and thinking creatively, I know that opportunities – with benefits better than Christmas bonuses and pension plans – await. By combining these skills and tools that I have acquired I know I’m on the way to hitting it big and to getting off of social assistance permanently. For that reason, I will win!

The week before Christmas I participated in a webinar series on social media organized and hosted by Dana Dunn of Women with Passion and Purpose. Among the lineup of passionate women speakers was Pam Brossman talking about using video to promote your own business. I wasn’t too sure how I could implement video into my own business – talking in front of a camera isn’t really my thing, except for once a year. Then my friend Suzie Cheel suggested that I could create PowerPoint videos.

Later that evening my ever-informative husband Darrell pointed me to a Bob Schultz video that apparently was viewed several hundred thousand time the first weekend it was up. Viewing the video, I was unsure what the big deal was about a photo of three basset hound puppies with text balloons overhead. But if that is what catches people attention and goes viral, perhaps there’s something to it!

That got me thinking. My brain was churning while wrapping gifts, eating turkey with family and indulging in way too many yummy goodies. After all that, I am excited to introduce Faith the Talking CFO…

This video is intended as an experiment, to figure the technical aspect. Future videos will have more compelling messages by Faith.

Do you think this crazy idea has potential?

Dear Santa,

Christmas cards have been mailed, gifts wrapped, and dinner planned. All that remains, before tucking myself in for a long winter’s nap, is to write you a quick note.

Once again I am stumped what to write. I do not have a long list of gifts that I would like under the tree. You see, I have everything I could want or need – and then some.

The only one thing that I would like to ask for is that my family and friends, near and far, receive the one gift that they truly need at this point in their life’s journey.

Wishing you and the reindeer a safe trip. Merry Christmas!

With love from, 
Glenda